Safety circuit for window regulator mechanism



SAFETY CIRCUIT FOR WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed May 1, 1967 Oct. 14, 1969 J. c. LITTMANN 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Jos, PH .LITTMANN ATTORNEYS SAFETY CIRCUIT FOR wmnow REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed May 1, 1967 Oct. 14, 1969 J. c. LITTMANN 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Oct. 14, 1969 J. c. LITTMANN 3,471,969

SAFETY CIRCUIT FOR WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed May 1, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet FIG.8 20\ FIG? INVENTOR QEBH C. LITTM MN; /4/ 7/ BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. CI. 49-28 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A closure regulator including safety means responsive to predetermined resistance to closing movement of a closure effective to reverse movement thereof toward open position, and means responsive to substantial completion of movement in closing direction to disable the safety means.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 476,302, filed Aug. 2, 1965, now Patent 3,348,638.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, accidents in the mechanical power opera tion of closures, and particularly vehicle windows, have resulted when a passenger, most often a child, interposes a portion of his body between the movable closer and the frame. At the same time, it is essential to exert very substantial power during the final short movement of the closure, particularly vehicle windows, to fully closed position so as to provide an adequate seal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION As applied to closure regulators, the invention has for its object the elimination of danger due to a passenger in a vehicle or a user of an opening being caught by a power operated closure. The specific problem sought to be overcome is in window regulator mechanism intended for effecting movement of rear windows in station wagons because of the fact that substantial power is ordinarily used to actuate such windows, constituting a danger if a child inadvertently interposes a portion of his body between the movable window and the frame.

The power applied to operate the window regulator mechanism is transmitted through a yieldable connection adapted to yield a predetermined amount upon application of a predetermined torque at which time a reversing switch is actuated which will reverse the direction of movement of the window or other closure from movement toward closed position to movement toward open position.

0n the other hand, window regulators of vehicles particularly, require the application of substantial power during the last short movement in order to provide an adequate seal. Thus, it is necessary to provide means responsive to substantially complete closing movement of the closure to disable the reversing switch so as to permit the application of full power to seal the closure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of window regulator mechanism embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view through the mechanism shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the mechanism shown essentially in FIGURE 2.

3,471,969 Pate nted Oct. 14, 1969 FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4, FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view on the line 66, FIG- URE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 7--7, FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 8 is a simplified wiring diagram of the mechamsm.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view through an edge of the Window and a seal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the present invention is applicable generally to closures, it has particular value in connection with a window regulator for operating the rear window of a station wagon.

As seen in FIGURE 1 the window regulating mechanism comprises a pair of operating arms 10 and 12 pivoted as indicated at 13, each of which has formed integrally therewith a toothed sector 14, the toothed sectors being in mesh with each other as indicated in the figure.

Details of the connection between the operating arms 19 and 12 and the window are not illustrated since this may be of conventional design. However, since a pair of arms are provided the relatively wide window is moved smoothly without the possibility of jamming. The meshed portions of the sectors 14 are retained in mesh by suitable means such for example as a plate 16 having ears 18 at the ends secured to the mounting plate 20.

The means for rotating the arms 10 and 12 in unison comprises an electric motor 22 having an output shaft carrying a worm 24 which meshes with and drives a worm gear 26 mounted on a post 27 carried by the housing 28. As best seen in FIGURES 2-6, the gear 26 is formed with four equally spaced pockets 29 interconnected by arcuate laterally opening passages 30. Received within each of the pockets 29 is an elongated coil compression spring 32. Also provided on the side of the gear 26 which contains the pockets 29 are a plurality of circumferentially inclined ramp surfaces 34 for a purpose which will presently appear.

A sub-assembly comprising a sleeve 36, a drive pinion 38, and a spider 40 is mounted for rotation on the post 27. The spider 40 has a plurality of legs 42 each of which extends into one of the passages 30 intermediate the pockets 29, each of the legs engaging corresponding ends of one of the coil compression springs 32. As best seen in FIGURE 4, the opposite ends of the compression springs 32 seat against the end of the pockets 29 and in normal position, the opposite ends of the springs engage the opposite ends of the pockets. The legs 42 occupy the narrow arcuate passages interconnecting the pockets.

As the gear 26 is driven in rotation by the worm 2 4 torque is applied to the spider and through the sleeve 36 to the pinion 38 through the springs 32. If rotation of the pinion 38 is opposed, the springs 32 are compressed in accordance with the resistance opposing rotation of the pinion and relative rotation takes place between the worm gear 26 and the spider 40.

Rotatable on the post 27 is an annular plate 44 having a plurality of pins 46 extending through openings 48 provided in the spider 40. Accordingly, the plate 44 is driven in rotation by the spider 40 but is movable axially of the post 27 relative thereto.

The structure so far described is received within the housing 28 which is provided with a cover 50. Secured to the inside of the cover 50 is switch mechanism including an electrical spring contact 52 and a contact plate 54 having a plurality of spring arms 56, the free ends of which are secured to the cover 59 by screws 58 extending into openings 60 in the cover. Contact plate 54 includes a contact 62 which is engageable with a contact element 64 carried by the spring contact 52.

In use, as resistance is applied to rotation of mechanism turned by the pinion 38, relative rotation between the spider 40 and the worm gear 26 takes place and the pins 46 ride up the inclined ramp surfaces 34 pushing the annular plate 44 to the right as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. The contact plate 54 may be in continuous engagement with the annular plate 44 or it may be spaced from it until the loading on the pinion 38 approaches the set value at which time the spring plate 54 is moved to the right, this movement being permitted by yielding of the spring arms 56. At the preset loading, electrical contact takes place between the contacts 62 and 64, thus operating a relay as will subsequently be described. Means are provided for varying the loading which operates the relay and this means takes the form of an adjusting screw 66 which adjusts the position of the contact element 64.

The opening 68 through the cover 50 is of a size suflicient to permit passage of the pinion 38 and the opening is closed by a resilient annular seal 70. A spring washer 72 is provided which retains the pinion, sleeve and spider assembly in the operating position shown in FIGURE 2.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, the pinion 38 as shown is in mesh with the toothed sector 14 on the operating arm so that when the motor 22 drives the gear 26 in rotation the pinion 38 drives the sector 14- of the arm 10 and this sector in turn drives the sector of the arm 12 so that the arms 10 and 12 move in unison. Carried by the arm 10 is a switch actuator 74 engageable with the plunger 76 of a switch 78 when the arms 10 and 12 reach a position close to but spaced slightly from the position corresponding to the fully closed position of the window. The switch 78 and the contacts 62 and 64 form part of an electrical circuit including a relay 88 mounted on the mounting plate 20, whose operation will subsequently be described.

If desired, suitable counterbalancing spring means indicated generally at 82, may be connected to one of the operating arms as for example the arm 10, so as to counterbalance the weight of the window.

Referring now to FIGURE 8 the circuit for the motor 22 comprises the leads 84 and 86 which are adapted to be connected respectively to a power source such as a battery, and then grounded, the specific connection determining whether the motor is initially energized to run in a direction to raise the window or to lower the window.

The relay indicated generally at 80, comprises a winding 88 in series with the normally closed switch 78 and the normally open contacts 62, 64. A holding circuit for the coil 88 is provided including a resistance 90. The relay 80 includes movable contacts 92 and 94 normally occupying the position illustrated in FIGURE 8, and fixed contacts 95, 96, 97 and 98.

It will be understood that the circuit illustrated in FIG- URE 8 is associated with a manual switch which in one position connects the line 84 to the battery and the line 86 to ground, and in an opposite position reverses these connections. In the intermediate position of the manual switch the circuit to the battery is open.

Assume that the manual switch is positioned to connect the line 84 to the battery, a circuit is provided through contacts 95 and 92 to the motor 22, and thence through the contacts 94 and 97 to the grounded line 86. This will result in upward movement of the window which will continue to fully close the window unless the window encounters resistance during its upward movement. In such case, the contacts 62 and 64 are momentarily closed, completing a circuit through the relay winding 88 and shifting the movable contacts 92 and 94 into engagement with the fixed contacts 96 and 98 respectively. This will provide a holding circuit through the winding 88, the re- 'sistance 90, the contacts 92 and 96 to the grounded line 86. At the same time, it will provide a reverse circuit to the motor through the contacts 98, 94, the motor 22, the contacts 92 and 96, to the grounded line 86. Therefore, if excessive resistance to movement of the window is applied during its upward movement and while the manually operated switch remains in position to raise the Window, the relay will reverse the motor 22 and will cause the window to move to fully open position.

In FIGURE 9 there is illustrated an edge portion of a window 188 which is movable vertically between open and closed position. In its uppermost closed position the upper edge of the window is caused to enter a sealing construction 102 including opposed flexible sealing flanges 104. Accordingly, as the upper edge of the window enters the seal 102, additional force is required to cause continued movement of the window to its fully closed and sealed position.

While details of this closure are of no significance with relation to the present invention, it is noted that the particular seal illustrated in FIGURE 9 is shown in U.S. 'Patent 3,258,876 granted July 5, 1966.

Inasmuch as it is essential to have full power of the motor 22 to provide an adequate closure of the window, the normally closed switch 78 is provided which is opened by operation of the switch actuator 74 only when the window has reached a position approaching fully closed position. Opening of the normally closed switch 78 of course disables the switch means comprising the contacts 62, 64 so that as heavy load is applied on closure of the window, the relay 88 is prevented from reversing the motor.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved safety circuit for window regulator mechanism in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Window regulator mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising power actuating means for moving a window from open to a closed position in which the window engages a seal and requires substantially greater force to complete its closing movement after engaging said seal, reversing means responsive to loading applied to the power actuating means during the portion of closing movement of the window prior to engagement with the seal effective on exceeding a predetermined loading to reverse the direction of said power actuating means to move said window toward open position, and separate means operable upon closing movement of the window to a position substantially in engagement with the seal to prevent operation of said reversing means.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said power actuating means comprises an electric motor and circuit therefor, and said reversing means comprises a reversing switch in the motor circuit.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said separate means comprises an override switch in the motor circuit effective to override and nullify the action of said reversing switch.

4. A closure regulator mechanism comprising power actuating means including an electric motor and circuit therefor for moving a closure member from open to closed position in which the closure member engages a seal and requires substantially greater force to complete its closing movement after engaging in the seal, reversing means comprising a reversing switch in the motor circuit responsive to loads applied to the power actuating means during the portion of closing movement of the closure member prior to engagement with the seal effective on exceeding a predetermined loading to reverse said reversing switch to move said closure member toward open position, separate means operable upon closing movement of the closure member to a position substantially in engagement with the seal to prevent operation of said reversing means, said power actuating means comprising a rotary driving member and a rotary driven member, yieldable means coupling said members together to provide for relative rotation therebetween in accordance with loading on said driven member, and load responsive means operated by predetermined relative rotational movement between said members effective to operate said reversing switch.

5. Mechanism as defined in claim 4, said load responsive means comprising inclined ramp surfaces on one of said members, a switch actuator rotatable with the other member and having followers engaging said ramps, and means supporting said switch actuator for movement axially of said members.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 in which said window is a rear window for a station Wagon, said power actuating means comprises a housing having a fixed post therein, a motor, a motor driven gear mounted on Said Post within said housing, a plurality of circumferentially elongated pockets in one side of said gear, coil springs in said pockets, a spider rotatable on said post within said housing and having legs extendng into said pockets and there engaging corresponding ends of said springs, a pinion fixed to said spider and located exterior of said housing, circumferentially inclined ramps on said gear, said spider having openings therethrough, a plate having pins extending parallel to said post through said openings into engagement with said ramps, resilient means urging said plate in a direction to maintain said pins in contact with said ramps, and first switch means within said housing responsive to movement of said plate axially of said post to reverse said motor.

7. Mechanism as defined in claim 6 comprising second switch means operable on actuation to disable said first switch means, and a switch actuator for said second switch movement is completed, and in which said reversing means includes means effective to require movement of the manual switch to neutral position before a second closing movement of the window may be initiated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,217,053 2/ 1917 Parish 49-27 1,745,990 2/ 1930 Goldman 49-27 2,130,764 9/ 1938 Conklin 49-28 X 2,687,455 8/ 1954 Norman 49-27 X 2,689,891 9/1954 Silver et a1. 20061.46 2,756,990 7/ 1956 Reamey 318-286 X 3,078,407 2/ 1963 Schaefer 49-28 X 3,129,300 4/1964 Moyles 200-61.46 3,204,170 8/1965 Monks 318-267 3,287,618 11/1966 Stephens 318-265 X DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

ZOO-61.42; 318-265 

